Spin Instructor Try-out tomorrow- any tips??

[snooz]

Hey, thanks.
I guess I'll do at least better than those instructors that don't sound like they are certified through a reputable program or have forgotten what they learned!

Thanks for the suggestions, wish me luck!

[Catrin]

Hey, thanks.
I guess I'll do at least better than those instructors that don't sound like they are certified through a reputable program or have forgotten what they learned!

Thanks for the suggestions, wish me luck!

Sadly they were all certified, and at least in my experience, aren't uncommon. Thankfully at my last gym we had a great instructor who was really responsible for encouraging me to learn how to ride outside. I loved his spinning class so much that I just HAD to see what it was like to take it outside

[Crankin]

+1 to everyone else's comments. There is nothing worse than a spinning instructor who has never been on a bike in the real world.
To me, the most annoying (and contraindicated) things are the jumps, hovers, push ups, etc., or anything else that you would never do outside. Go to a functional fitness class if you want to do that.
As one who rarely stands while riding outside, I do stand on the spin bikes. However, I only stand for short bursts, and often times the instructors will have the class standing and riding with very hard resistance for 5+ minutes .
It's bad enough to have to come inside and ride and sometimes the choice between spin class, riding on the trainer, or snow shoeing is not a hard one for me. The snow shoeing will always win, if I have the time.

[indysteel]

I think it's very important to emphasize that your instructions are just suggestions. Everyone should be encouraged to listen to their own bodies and modify as necessary if something is too hard, uncomfortable, painful, etc.

My pet peeve with instructors are those who are just there to get their own workout. I've had a couple of "racer" instructors who basically taught classes so that they could kill two birds with one stone. So there they would be pushing these insanely high watts (this gym had spin bikes with power meters) while the rest of us would be hanging over the side of our bikes ready to throw up. I had another instructor (who ended up becoming a friend and riding buddy) who could spin like nobody's business. No matter the resistance, he could maintain a 90+ cadence. I did a couple of weeklong tours with him in Tennessee and he was a mountain goat. It took a lot to convince him that the rest of us mere mortals couldn't do that and until I did, his spin class was kind of a PITA.

You don't sound like the type that would do that, but it's important to keep in mind that just because you find a particular level of difficulty easy; the rest of the class might not. Pay attention to how people are responding to your instructors. If you see people struggling en masse, dial it down a notch.

Good luck. I like spin classes a lot. With the right music and the right instruction, they can really be a blast.

[snooz]

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions!
These are the things I hope to bring to class and especially today when I try out!

I think I'm unique in that I have had the uber-extreme indoor cycling experience- when it was first a big thing in the 90's I took a class at my gym and it was so awesome (read serious sarcasm here) that it took me only TWELVE years to go to my second class!! That instructor had us doing crazy things that I was not capable of, even though I ran marathons and was in good shape. And since my love affair started with indoor cycling, I've had two C sections and one shoulder surgery as well as the very tough transition from surgery/couch potato recovery back to gym-goer so I understand the importance of everyone going at their own pace (even if I don't always do it myself when I should, sadly).
SO.....
I'm going to read everyone's posts one last time, burn them into my memory, shower and head off to the try-out.
If all goes well, I will rock it, become employed as an instructor and tell you all you helped me out!!!
Cheers,
S

[tulip]

Good luck!

I would add one more thing--not for your audition, but for your future classes.

Know your class demographics. In other words, if your class members are mostly over 50, go easy on the techno. I've also seen instructors provide a clipboard so that students can write down their favorite songs. How many times have you been listening to music and said, "that would be a great spin tune?" Happens all the time.

Remember, you are asking us here at TE, and we are all outdoor cycling enthusiasts. You will get students who do not like to ride outside, but I still say that making the class relate to real cycling is a good idea. It's gotten some students in a class I attend to get outside and ride their bikes. That's a Very Good Thing.

[Catrin]

How did it go?